Opening a Restaurant

[Jack Tango]

So, my family is opening a restaurant (again), and we need a name; last time we did this, the CBR Community helped us come up with After Hours Bistro, and that proved a fair success in our little town. This time around, the stakes are higher, the pressure is on, and we need to make our mark!

Here are some details:

The cuisine is of a fusion of modern mediterranean and classic fare, featuring pastas, seafood, steaks, pizzas, all with a signature twist. Casual Fine Dining.

The decor is going to be warm, tans and mahogany, a classic contemporary mix with black granite, sandstone faux-finished walls, slate tiles, with burgandy accents. I'll have some pictures added later for your perusal.

We are completely at our wit's end in terms of coming up with a name, so any suggestions supplied are greatly appreciated:

[Sir Tim Drake]

The cuisine is of a fusion of modern mediterranean and classic fare, featuring pastas, seafood, steaks, pizzas, all with a signature twist. Casual Fine Dining.

Casfindi's?

[StoneGold]

I've got the perfect name for a chicken restaurant: Cockblockers.

[Davideaux]

The Oh So Yummy Epiphany

[Jared_Humpherys]

Perhaps "Caspian Cafe"?(dunno how to make the little accent on the "e".)

Denotes a mixture of mediterranean food with a modern twist and a relaxed atmosphere.

First thing that popped into my head.

[Dan Apodaca]

Make it something that relates to your family. Something that will have meaning to you guys, and also make you stand out from the crowd.

What's your family name?

[StoneGold]

What's your family name?
Botchulism.

[Dan Apodaca]

Botchulism.

Fluffy J. Botchulismo Family Dining!

[Sleeper]

I only got Socks with Sandles. Casual fine.

[Iangould]

I'm tryign to think of names that same "Mediterranean" without suggesting a particular regional cusine.

So "Tuscany" for example says Italian.

"Renaissance"?

"Cantata"?

[DubipR]

I'm tryign to think of names that same "Mediterranean" without suggesting a particular regional cusine.

Like Ian, I thought of the Mediterranean for a name. The only one I can think of was Il Mare (the Sea in Italian).

[howyadoin]

What happened to the old restaurant? Did it burn the ground, fall over and sink in the swamp?

[StoneGold]

What happened to the old restaurant? Did it burn the ground, fall over and sink in the swamp?
Botchulism.

[Drew Van T.]

Azur (or Azuro, or Azuri) is almost a synonym for "mediterranean". Lots of restaurants down there use the word. Similarly, "Midi" (or "meedee") is French for south, and is reliable.

I would't simply use the name of an Italian region (or a Spanish or Greek one) because it suggests "obscure specialty cuisine" to those who know it's a region, and suggests nothing to those who don't.

Of course there are lots of restaurants using familiar Italian words: Dolce, Dolcetto, Campanello, Il Convivio, Luciano, Passione, Grazie, Timpano, Bienvenuti, Donatello, Caravaggio, etc. But while they may be recognizable, these sound (to me at least) a little clichéd and old-fashioned, which is not in line with what you're serving.

Me, I like names that are short, easy to remember, and most of all playful: "Bon bon", "Cosi", "Vineeto", "Cheff", "Meedee", "Tapa Tapa", "Café Lungo", names like that.

[Paradox]

Jack's Tango Palace and Emporium.

Hey, I never said it was a GOOD suggestion. :)

Geez, how many restaurants does that make, now, Jack?

[Samurai]

Here's a fun little play on words...

"Soul of the Boot"

The boot is Italy, and you are capturing the spirit of it. The sign could show the shape of Italy to help get the point across.

[StoneGold]

Pizza Hut.

[Sleeper]

Ooh, how about Closed Mondays?

[twilight]

"Uncle Jack's Science Based Family Food Feed-atorium".

[Dr. Hfuhruhurr]

Sam and Ella's?

[Boldido]

How about Club Med? It suggests the mediterrenan fare while the play on words and word club might suggest a more modern, hipper atmosphere.

Of course you might be sued for trademark violations, but its still a good name.

[Jack Tango]

Thank you all for your responses and interest in the new place; I'm taking your suggestions to the Brain Trust (Mom & Dad) for them to look over. She has a weird trust of "Those People on the Internet," since that's where we got the name of our last place.

Pictures of the interior design plans will be taken today, and posted sometime this evening. You may begin trembling with anticipation now.

(Oh, and in case anyone doesn't know, we live in Niagara Falls. Hundreds of restaurants all smooshed together in a tiny little area. Competition is fierce. I'm not sure if that helps when thinking up suggestions, but there y'go.)

Specific Replies

To Dan Apodaca: "Make it something that relates to your family. Something that will have meaning to you guys, and also make you stand out from the crowd. What's your family name?"

We've fiddled with some variations based on these ideas and haven't been able to come up with anything good. Here are the pertinent details that we've been drawing from:

Last Name: Radice; Mother's Maiden Name: Zafeeris; Hometowns: San Fele (Dad), Montreal (Mom).

We are trying to avoid anything overly "ethnic," as it tends to keep people away, and so far permutations of our last names/city names don't work all that well.

To Howyadoin': "What happened to the old restaurant? Did it burn the ground, fall over and sink in the swamp?"

Actually, no. We sold it. For a lot of money. :)

To Paradox: "Geez, how many restaurants does that make, now, Jack?"

This would be restaurant number three, but since we sold restaurant number two, and are actually renovating and remaking restaurant number one, it's really only one restaurant overall. But this will be the third distinct restaurant-based business my family has owned.

[howyadoin]

I think it should be called Jack Tango's.

[Dan Apodaca]

I think it should be called Jack Tango's.

Obvious, sure, but I like it.

[Jack Tango]

I think it should be called Jack Tango's.

I like it, but the city already has a Jack Tanner's.

I briefly considered suing.

[Dan Apodaca]

What about "Tango" or "Tango's"?

[Jack Tango]

What about "Tango" or "Tango's"?

Sorry, and a "Cafe Tu Tu Tango"

Also, a clothing store named "Tango"

What can I say? I'm a popular name.

[howyadoin]

Obvious, sure, but I like it."What can we call Jack's bistro?"

"That's it, Mr. Furley!"

[Jack Tango]

"What can we call Jack's bistro?"

"That's it, Mr. Furley!"

Call it Mr. Furley's? Hmm...

(Of course, my name isn't Jack, so"Jack's Bistro" would be confusing...)

[howyadoin]

Call it Mr. Furley's? Hmm...

(Of course, my name isn't Jack, so"Jack's Bistro" would be confusing...)How about "Gay Paree"?

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Sorry, and a "Cafe Tu Tu Tango"

Also, a clothing store named "Tango"

What can I say? I'm a popular name.


How about a play on that classic Ted Nugent song " Wango Tango " ? This way you can use your last name in a way.

[Jack Tango]

How about "Gay Paree"?

I'll ... um ... add ... it ... uh ... to the list...

Oh, and ECWFAN, Tango isn't my last name, either. I'm neither a Jack, nor a Tango. My bad.

Okay! Off to show the Brain Trust!

[Dan Apodaca]

I feel bad. I haven't come up with anything helpful.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

I'll ... um ... add ... it ... uh ... to the list...

Oh, and ECWFAN, Tango isn't my last name, either. I'm neither a Jack, nor a Tango. My bad.

Okay! Off to show the Brain Trust!


Thats cool I'd use your CBR name that way. Can you imagine the business cards you can pass out for your business " Come to Wango Tango's for a dinner ! "

[howyadoin]

How about Poon Tango?

[SUPERECWFAN1]

How about Poon Tango?

Theres always Bango Tango's .

[Dom]

Tango Denero?

Or steal the name my cousin is using for a new club, the Afro Lounge.

[Mac Danny]

"The Niagra Noshitorium."

"The Casual Fine Dining Restaurant of Greater Niagra Falls."

For all your Canadian Customers you can call it "Abooot"

"Cafe' Medditerrano"

"Mac Danny's House of Chicken and Waffles"

"Falls Landing"

"The Blue Grill"

"Big Blue Bistro"

"Uncle Mo's Family Feedbag"

[Iangould]

If the After Hours Bistro has been a success why not play on that success by giving the new restaurant a related name - what's "After hours" in Spanish, French, Italian and Greek?

[Evil Sneak]

Cafe de Zafe (in honor of your Mom's maiden name)

Raza's (Radice / Zafeeris)

Gibralter (It connects The Med to the Atlantic creating a fusion between the East & West)

Evil Sneak's House of Chicken and Waffles & Whores It's a chain.

[Dom]

Dopo Cena is also nice.

[Mac Danny]

Evil Sneak's House of Chicken and Waffles & Whores It's a chain.


So sneak, you've added Whores to the Menu I see. Well at Mac Danny's house of Chicken and Waffles we've addeda new item..

Mac Danny's Ho Cake... Cause, Ho's gotta eat too!

[Jack Tango]

As promised, photos -- of DRAWINGS, HOWY, ARE YA HAPPY?!?! -- so, enjoy:

http://static.flickr.com/116/298551506_0bb3165594_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43901033@N00/298551506/)
http://static.flickr.com/110/298551500_fa0fcbaa0f_o.jpg (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/%3Ca%20href=)
http://static.flickr.com/101/298551488_8990edba59_o.jpg (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/%3Ca%20href=)
(http://forums.comicbookresources.com/%3Ca%20href=)http://static.flickr.com/105/298551510_88265433f9_o.jpg (http://forums.comicbookresources.com/%3Ca%20href=)

Go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/jacktango/ to see the rest.

[howyadoin]

Um, those aren't photos.

[Jack Tango]

Um, those aren't photos.

:-) They're photos of drawings.

Anyway, just more inspiration for name suggestions!

[Paradox]

Dom tells me something I didn't know:

Or steal the name my cousin is using for a new club, the Afro Lounge.

Winslow is your cousin? :p

[howyadoin]

Go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/jacktango/ to see the rest.You should put some pictures of hot bitches in there.

[Paradox]

Nice watercolors, Jack. You do them? Understated and classy. I like.

[K'Nort]

I have to say, that style of barstool is absolutely lethal after a few too many.

Which is great entertainment for the staff, I expect.

[Iangould]

"sambucca"?

Just popped into my head - I'm not even sure it's mediterranean but it has a nice exotic sound to it.

[Jack Tango]

A couple quick repllies:

To 'Dox: Thanks for the compliment, but we those are commissioned drawings from Sunburst design. They do nice work.

To K'Nort: The barstools were actually changed to a proper, backed stool, to avoid such a problem.

Let's keep those names a comin'! Great suggestions so far!

[Jack Tango]

Hey, what do you guys think of:

"DANNY AVENTURA'S
Great Canadian Grillhouse
& Legendary Libation Imbibery"

:D

[K'Nort]

Hey, what do you guys think of:

"DANNY AVENTURA'S
Great Canadian Grillhouse
& Legendary Libation Imbibery"

:D

It makes me think of Hudson Hawk.

[Paul Newell]

The cuisine is of a fusion of modern mediterranean and classic fare, featuring pastas, seafood, steaks, pizzas, all with a signature twist. Casual Fine Dining.

Il Surfo e Turfo

[Paul Newell]

I'll ... um ... add ... it ... uh ... to the list...

Oh, and ECWFAN, Tango isn't my last name, either. I'm neither a Jack, nor a Tango. My bad.
Well we all know your real name is Johnny DC.

[Jack Tango]

It makes me think of Hudson Hawk.

Really? Why?

[Jack Tango]

Well we all know your real name is Johnny DC.

Weird, though; I've been Jack Tango longer...

[Naldo]

La Bocca Aperta

which means: The Open Mouth

[Naldo]

Il Ventre Pieno

which means: The Full Belly

[Paul Newell]

Weird, though; I've been Jack Tango longer...
Johnny's star hung in the heavens briefly....But burned brightly. ;)

[Jack Tango]

Johnny's star hung in the heavens briefly....But burned brightly. ;)

Awww. I'm speshul.

[Jack Tango]

Tuscan Son?

[Solaris]

I like "Tango Cuisine" (or Tango's Cuisine, whichever)... Tango has that tropical flavor to it, and the word "Cuisine" tells the customer that it's a bit upscale (and that the "Tango" doesn't refer to a club or dance hall).

Let's put it this way:

If I was looking through the yellow pages or a restaurant listing in my hotel room at Niagra Falls, I'd be intrigued by the name "Tango Cuisine" and read the ad further, to see just what kind of food and atmosphere (and price range) they offer.

Also, the word "Tango" conjures up images of involvement on a one-on-one basis... dancers tangled in each other doing hot tropical enviable moves. It speaks to the whole idea of tropical fun and romantic times, of play, of "getting away from it all." Adding in "cuisine" spells "not a chain restaurant; special, quality food prepared with an eye to both taste and appearance, and "atmosphere that's rather classy in an upbeat, tropical avant-garde way."

Then again, this might make people think more of Carribean food... so what about

Villa Cuisine (there are Villas in France, Spain, and Italy), Halcyon Blue (often referring to Mediterranean waters, and has a Greek source), or something simple like Michaelangelo's? (The last one is my favorite: conjures up both classical imagery and class. Of course, you might want to do a little Michaelangelo art with some of the decor, if you pick that... prints, the David statue in minature, etc.)

[Puma]

how about Mondo Nuovo? old world language saying "new World" hints of both cuisines and atmosphere.

[Solaris]

The one problem I have with a lot of these Italian-worded names is that it implies "Italian Restaurant", which this one is not. It has standard American fare and Mediterranean food... not the usual mix you find in an Italian Restaurant. To me, Mediterranean also means things like Greek food, Southern France food, etc.

[Puma]

Ionia Grille for the sea between Italy and Greece?

[Solaris]

Ionia Grille for the sea between Italy and Greece?

I like that one much better! :)